Aliioaiga dares SIDS

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Posted date:
November 21, 2016 |
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By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) have been put on notice.
SIDS are urged to stop making excuses and get on with the program to tap into billions of direly need funding available from the multi-billion dollar Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The call was made by Samoa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Aliioaiga Elisaia Feturi of Samoa, who is representing Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) in the GCF Board during the Fund’s second meeting in Suva Fiji recently.
Aliioaiga urge Pacific countries to change the narrative and stop blaming others for their inability access the many climate financing mechanisms at their disposal.
“Too often we are always singing the same old song and same old tune. There are resources available,” the Samoan diplomat is quoted by PACNEWS.
“Off course some member states still have difficulties accessing them. That is why countries have international accredited entities to assist them while they develop their own national designated bodies to be accredited.
Ambassador Feturi said Tuvalu and Fiji have proven the value of working with international accredited partners, UNDP and ADB respectively, to access US$67 million from GCF.
“We are complaining that we need to be at the front of the queue but sometimes it’s better to be at the back of the queue to learn some things.
“We need to put our houses in order first and stop blaming others. What GCF is trying to do is see what other existing funds are not doing so we can rectify that with the way we disburse the GCF, so we don’t make the same mistakes,” said the Samoan Ambassador.
“I remember in Niue, one small country said direct access – no thank you. We will never be able to access the funding. We will need to work with development partners. Good if we can do it on our own but does it matter if it’s SPREP or other partners – at the end of the day the power is in your hands.
“National governments determine the kinds of project that is to be funded. It’s not token approval,” added Ambassador Aliioaiga.
The next GCF Board meeting will be hosted by Samoa next month. And reports indicate that two projects will be tabled by the host country seeking funding from the Green Climate Fund.